Machine for canceling letters.



S. J. EVANS, DEC'D.

0. 1:. nuns, ADMINISTBATRIX.

MACHINE FOB UANOELING LETTERS.

APPLICATION IILBD FEB. 21, 1908. 7 993,969. Patemed A w. 3, wag.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ml mums reruns 50.,w4smns1ummc S. J. EVANS, DEGD. 0. 1:. nuns, ADMIHIBTRATBIX. MACHINE FOB. UANGELING LETTERS.

AYPLIOLTIOH FILED M121, 1008.

903,069. W Patented Nov. 3, 1908 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

S. J. EVANS, DEG'D.

U. E. EVANS, ADHIHIBTBATBIX.

MACHINE POE GAMBLING LETTERS. .nrLmA'non FILED 35.21, 1906.

903,069. Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

S. J. EVANS, DBGD. o. n. EVANS, ADMIKISTBATRII.

MACHINE FOR GANGELING LETTERS. APPLICATION I'ILED 123.21, 1906.

903 ,069. Patented Nov. 3. 1908.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL J. EVANS, OF BOANOKE, VlltGlNIA;

CELIA E. EVANS ADMINISTRATRIX OF SAID SAMUEL .T. EVANS, DECEASED.

MACHINE FOR CANCELING LETTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed. February 21, 1906 Serial No. 302,309.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, SAMUEL J. Evans, citizen of the United States, residing at Roanoke, Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Canceling Letters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for canceling and post marking letters, my object being to improve the machine throughout and render its operation certain and effective.

The invention consists of the features and combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with the parts in normal position ready to receive the letters to be canceled. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the marking and impression means and the device associated therewith for registering the letter and timing the operation of the printing or marking means. showing a letter at m in the act of being canceled, and illustrating also devices associated with the marking and impression means for insuring the proper control of the letters. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of parts shown in Fig. 2 in a different position showing how the letter is held when it has arrived at an improper time until the marking means has arrived in proper position to act thereon. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the friction feed wheel for the letters, guiding and retarding devices being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the impression roll or platen showing also the vibrator and means for operating the same and the supplemental guard and its operating means. Fig. 6 is a sectional View through the bed of the machine from front to rear substantially on the line fl---(i of Fig. 1, with parts however shown in side elevation. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the machine. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the means for setting the stacker. Fig. 9 is a detail front view of the controlling gate for theletters and parts associated therewith.

The letters to be canceled and post marked are pl accd on edge upon a table 1, with their forward ends resting against the guard or guide wall 2, extending vertically in relation to the table surface. They are pressed against the feed wheel 3, which is in constant rotation and thereby they are forced one by one into engagement with a friction [feed wheel 4, against which the letter is guided and pressed by a spring finger 5 curved as shown in Fig. 1 to provide a flaring inlet for the letter. This spring pressure finger is pivoted at 6 to a lug on the guard wall 2, and it is pressed by a spring 7 attached thereto and to a bracket 8 so that its rounded or curved end is pressed constantly towards the friction feed wheel at. A set screw 8" acts as a stop for the spring pressure finger.

The frictional feed wheel is of special construction and is shown in detail in Fig. l, and it consists of rubber rings 9 held to the hub or core of the wheel between the flanges 10 and the heads or plates 11 screwed to the core or hub, said hub being loose on the rotating shaft 13 and borne upon frictionally by the plates or disks 12 keyed to the said rotating shaft and the upper plate 12 being borne upon by a spring 13 held within a cap 14 and adjusted as to tension by the nut 15 threaded on the end of the rotating shaft. The frictional contact between the plates 12 and the heads of the feed wheel is so adjusted by means of the spring and nut that when the letters being fed into the machine are momentarily arrested as will be hereinafter described the feed means consisting of the rubber rings 9 will remain at rest and will not tear or buckle the letter, whereas when the letter is free to advance through the machine the frictional contact between the parts of the friction wheel will be suf ficient to move the letter forward.

As will be noticed from Figs. at and 7 the rubber feeding surfaces or rings 9 are separated from each other and into the space 16 thus provided the sprin finger 5 extends slightly when in normdl position Figs. 1 and 3.

Opposite the feed wheel a. letter retarding block 17 is arraiwed, this consisting of rubber pieces 19 fixed in sockets 19 of the block 17, one of said rubber pieces being provided for each of the feeding rings 9 of the friction feed wheel.

The spring finger 5 when pressed away from the feed wheel will rccede into the space 20 of the retarding block and the relation of the parts is such that the spring finger will act on said letters and cause them to be pressed against the feed surface 9, and they will pass freely forward over the smooth rounded surface of the spring lUEi finger, but a second letter on presenting itself to the spring finger 5 and the feed wheel while the first is still there, will, by its added thickness press the spring finger back so far as to cause it to .recede into the space 20 of the retarding or separating block and thus exposing the rubber retarders 19 to engage the second letter and hold it until after the first letter has been fed forward, when the spring finger will immediately press the second letter against the feed wheel at and away from contact with the retarding blocks or rubbers 19. In this way the letters are separated and fed forward one by one. This retarder or separator 17 is supported upon a standard or arm 17 passing up through an opening 17 in the bed of the machine from a lever 17*, pivoted below the bed at 17 Fig. l, a spring 17 acting on said lever and pressing the separator constantly towards the feed wheel, its movement in that direction however being limited by the stop consisting of a screw rod 1T journaled beneath the bedand operated by a finger piece 17 This yielding quality of the separator or retarder and also of the spring finger 5 accommodates letters of different thickness.

From the feed wheel 4 the letters pass between the feed rollers 21, 22, of which 22 is a driven wheel while 21 is merely a presser wheel, and from these the letter is fed for ward to the impression means which comprises the rotary die or head 23 and an impression roller or platen 24. The rotary die or head'carries the marking dies 25 for ap plying the post marks and it also carries the ribs 26 for applying the canceling marks to the letters. Ink is applied to the dies and canceling ribs by an inking roller 27 having a textile covered periphery 28 saturated with ink which is applied to the dies and ribs each time they come around thereto.

The impression roller or platen is moved towards the die roller or head when a letter has arrived in proper position between them so as to register properly with the canceling ribs and the die on the said roller. For securing this registration of the letter in relation to the means to make the impression, I employ a registerin device or stop which also acts as a timer or the operations of the impression roller or platen by locking the said platen to its operating mechanism at the proper times. This combined letter stop and locking-key consists of a lever 28 pivoted to a fixed point at 29 to the overhanging portion 30 of a box or bracket 31 secured to the bed of the machine. This lever has one arm extending norm-aiiy across the path of the letter between the die head and impression roller and the other arm 33 of this lever extends laterally from the housing or bracket 31 to be at times in the path of the end 34 of the vibrator or controller 35 arranged independently and to one side of the impression platen or roller. This vibrator reciprocates in a direction transverse to the path of the letters so to carry the end 34 from the position shown in Fig 1 to that shown in Fig. 3 and back again. The locking-key or timing stop 28 is held normally out of the path of movement of the vibrator by a spring 35 as shown in Fig. 1 attached at one end to the locking-key and at the other to a bracket 36 on the housing. hen however, a letter is fed between the printing and canceling members as at Fig. 2 it contacts with the arm 32 of the letter stop or timer and swings the same on its pivot from the position shown in Fig. 1 so that its arm 33 will move out into the path of the vibrator 35 and this arm will be moved forward as a whole with the forward movement of the vibrator, its pivotal movement being limited by the pin 13 as described below, and this action will result in the impression roller being moved forward to force the envelop or letter into contact with the canceling ribs 011 the die or rotary head and in proper register with said ribs. This result is accomplished as follows: The impression roller has its shaft 24* j ournaled in a box 37 slidable in an opening 38 in the bed. The lower end of the impression shaft is pivoted to the frame at 39 and it is driven through a gear 96 fixed to said shaft. The upper end of the shaft extends into an opening in bar 41 which is arranged within a barrel or plunger 42 slidably mounted in the housing or box 31 before mentioned. This barrel has its forward end flattened and carries a pin 43 extending upwardly in front of the arm 33 of the letter-registeringstop and locking-key. Now when a letter has arrived at the registering-stop the said stop by pressure of the letter will be turned on its pivot as above referred to so that its arm 33 will be. struck by the vibrator and said arm will be moved forward and in this movement it will press upon the pin 43 and through it the barrel 42 and the bar 41 carried thereby will be moved to cause the impression roller to advance and press the letter upon the marking devices on the die or rotary head 23, which letter has, by contacting with the arm 32, been properly registered in place.

As above stated the registering stop for the letter has swinging movement only, its pivot 29 being a fixed point on the housing or box 31 and in the swinging movement above described the registering-stop for the letter acts as a locking-key to lock or connect the impression roiier to its actuating mechanism as hereinbefore described, and further, as it continues to swing under pressure due to the advancing movement of the vibrator 35 in the arrow direction Fig. 3 the end of its arm 32 is caused to recede from to accommodate th1s extra thickness of the across the path of the letter and out of coni tact with the said letter which is thus lc'tt l free to be moved onward by the combined action of the impression roller and the markl ing die or roller, it being post-marked and canceled during its passage between said parts.

The full throw of the platen or impression roller towards the die or marking roller or head is such as to mark the letters of minimum thinness and in order to mark thicker letters I have provided means whereby the impression roller may yield when a thicker l or heavier letter is going For this purpose the bar 41 is shoull dered at 44 where it is borne upon by a comparatively stifi' spring 45 arranged within the barrel 42 and resting at its rear end upon the end 46 of the barrel. The spring is sufliciently stiff to cause the bar 41 and the platen or impression roller connected therewith to be moved forward as one body when the barrel or plunger is moved forward. by the vibrator and locking-key 28, but when extra thick letters are going through. the spring do will yield and allow the bar all to lag behind the plunger or barrel sufficiently through the machine.

letters. The bar 41 may be adjusted to set the impression roller or platen accurately in position by the nuts 47 on the threaded rear end of the bar.

It will be understood that the vibrator is timed to advance its contacting end 34 in a certain relation to the arrival of the marking devices of the die at the printing point, and as the die carrier or rotary head has two sets of marking devices disposed thereon the vibrator makes two complete oscillations to each revolution of the marking die carrier. Should a letter arrive at the registeringstop arm 32 at an improper time it will. be held either by the said stop arm or by a supplemental guard or stop 48 arranged adacent to but in a lower plane than the registering stop arm 32.

l Fig. 3 illustrates the arrival of a letter at l the registering stop at an improper time, that is for instance after the contacting end 34 of the vibrator has advanced as shown in said figure beyond the point at which it might engage the end of the registering stop arm 33. At this time it will be noticed that the end of said arm 33 bears upon the plain side of the vibrator which thus holds the registering stop against movement and with 2 its end maintained across the path of the letter to hold the same until such time as the vibrator moves back and picks up the registering-stop or locking-key on its next forward movement, which will thus act to make the registering-stop get in time with the l marking roller and cause the letter to be reg istered with the marking devices and causing also the impression roller to be advanced i at the proper moment. The other contingency that must be gimrelcd against is when a letter arrives and contacts with the main registering-stop 5111 when the vibrator is on its backward stroke opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow or when the vibrator is beginning its forward movement and has not yet arrived with its contacting end to the point oi" contact with the locking-key. The registering stop would be pressed aside l'recly towards the right whcnihe contracting end El i had passed rcarwardly in rclation to the locking-law and it would allow the letter to be carried on through thc machine, or to become misplaced in relation to the marking devices by contact with the rotary die or marking head. in order to prevent the passage of the letter by the printing or canceling members at this time the supplemental stop or guard 48 above mentioned is can ployed. which has an end adapted to reach across the path of the letter and act in connection with a gate 4-9 to hold the letter and prevent it From unduly acting against the registering stop or loekingkcy and slipping past the same until said. locking-key engaged by and under the control of the contacting end of the 'lbl'tllfil'. This supplemental. stop or guard is oscillated from the position shown in Fig. 1 where it in contact with the gate 49 to the position shown in Fig. 2 in dotted lines, where it is swung back to allow the letter to pass by the marlc ing devices and the registering-stop. The opening oi the guard or supplemental stop 48 to the position shown in dotted lines in. Fig. 2 is but momentary as it returns quickly to the position shown in full lines in said figures. the etfect of which is to push the letter oil from engagement with the hook 392 i of the arm 32 on which it might hang.

The gate 4-?) is yieldiugly held so that it wili rcecllc under the pressure of the letters and more or lcss according to their thickness. The gate is pivoted at ill to a bracket 31 and it is pressed by a spring :32 so that its lrcc end is ydeldingly pressed away from the 'ieriphery oi the die head. its position is limited by a stop screw 53. The gate is shouldered at 54 and when. the parts are in 1 position to arrest the tree passage oi oi lcltcr in order to register it with the marking do vices thc end of the supplemental stop or guard reaches around the corner of said shoulder and bears upon its face. The spring gate is also rece sed at 5:5 to receive the end of the lcttcr-regisleririg-stop arm 32. This gate coacts with both the lcttcnrrgistcring-stop arm 32 and the supplemental guard 43 to prevent the letters slipping by of said parts as it confines the letters closely by contact with their sides as shown in Fig. 3. After passing the marking die and impression roller or platen the lcltcrs pass between the delivery rolls 5G and thence to a the ends ill) tions leadin to F stacking device 57 carried by the shaft 58, said stacker having a scroll formation as shown in Fig. 1 and having an abrupt drop or shoulder .79. This scroll shaped stacker operates through a fence or shield 60 and the letters arriving from the delivery rolls strike the periphery thereof and are pressed laterally and stacked against the plate 61 which is carried by or supported upon the block (52 supported on the table or chute 63 and which plate movable along the said chute as the quantity of letters stacked thereagainst increases. The ends of the letters after passing by the stacker strike against the fence or wall 64 extending at an inclination over the table or chute and adjustably held by the slotted bracket and set screw 65-66. The stacker is composed of a number of sections or scrolls, Fig. 6, like that shown in plan in Fig. 1 carried by the said shaft 58. The abrupt shoulder or drop 59 on the stacker allows the letters to contact with their forward edges close to the center of the rotary stacker and imn'iediately the said letters are operated upon and pressed laterally by the scroll portion of the stacker.

A supplemental stacker is arranged at having a series of rounded projecting portions 71 to engage the extreme end portions of long letters and move them laterally. This supplemental device being more particularly useful in the case of long letters.

llaving now referred to the principal elemerits and the functions performed by them I will revert to the means for actuating these elements.

The vibrator is reciprocattal by connecan eccentric 72 on the main shaft T3 of the machine. 'lhese connections consist of the rotary shaft or pin 74 formed in one piece with the crank disk 35* which is connected by the pitman or link 35 with the bar 3.3 constituting the vibrator and which bar is slidably mounted in the housing 31. The lower end of the said shaft Tl bears in a bracket or frame part 75 and having an arm or block Tb clamped thereto by the bolts 77, the said arm being connected by a right angular link 78 with the rod 71. of an eccentric strap so which is operated by the eccentric T2 on the main shaft 7?) above mentioned. This eccentric rod has a yielding connection. with the eccentric strap for which purpose the said strap is formed with a hollow boss or barrel H1 receiving the enlarged head 83 of the eccentric rod against which a. spring 82 bears at one end. the other end of said spring bearing upon a cap Hal screwed on to the boss 8!. lhrough these connections the vibrator is reciprrwatcd so as to advance the contacting end 31 for the purpose of advancing the impression roll at the moment the marking device on the die carrier or marking head comes around into marking position. The yielding connection is provided in order to hold the vibrator with its contacting end in advanced position and with the impression roller up to its work for a suflicient length of time to enable the marking device to make the impression on the letter, it being noticed that the marking devices consisting of the l ribs and the die associated therewith occupy a considerable portion of the circumference of the marking head and it is therefore necessary to hold the impression roller forward l for the length of time occupied in the passage l of the ribs and the die past the printing point 4 and therefore the parts are so arranged that l before the high part of the cam or eccentr c l arrives in line with the axis of the eccentric 1 rod the contacting end 34 will have advanced sufficiently to move the impression roller up to its work and this position will be maintained during the passage of the high part of the cam by the axis of the eccentric rod and for an appreciable time after the said high part passes by the said axial line by reason of the employment of the spring 83 which allows the eccentric connection to yield under the greater pressure resulting from the high part of the cam passing the l axial line without doing damage or strainf ing in any way the vibrator and the parts associated therewith. l The supplemental guard or registering i stop 48 is connected with a sleeve 85 arranged to turn about the shaft or pin 74 and having an arm 86 extending laterally, from which depends a pin or rod 87, the lower end of which has an opening 88 receiving an eccentric rod 89 of an eccentric 90 which is also on the main shaft 73 and is connected with and operated in unison with the eccentric 72 above mentioned. This eccentric rod 89 is provided With a shoulder 90 adapted in the forward movement of the eccentric rod to strike the pin or rod 87 and thus turn the sleeve 85 so as to move the supplemental guard or stop 48 away from its normal position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, immediately following which the shoulder 90 moves back and J away from the pin or rod 87 and. a spring 92 acting on the arm 86 immedlately returns the supplemental guard or stop finger to- I wards its normal position with the effects 4 above described.

The main shaft 73 is driven in any suit l able manner such as by a belt 93 and a pulley 94 and from this main shaft the shaft of the l driven through gearing l as shown in Fig. 7.

l The friction feed wheel is driven by a gear 07 on its shaft 98, said gear being driven from a gear 95) on the main shaft.

The feed roll 22 is driven by a gear 100 on its shaft meshing with the gear 101 on the main shaft.

The feeding Wheel 3 is driven from the shaft 98 of the friction feed wheel through ii'npression roller is the belt 102 and the pulleys 103, 104. In driving the delivery wheel 56 the gear 105 is loosely mounted on its shaft 106, said gear meshing with the gear 107 on the main shaft. 1 There is another gear 108 on the shaft of a different diameter from the gear and meshing with the gear 99 and a clutch 109 is employed to connect either of said.

next letter which moving into the open side of the scroll (2. at which the abrupt shoulder is located will be. the rapid, rotation of the stacker immediately press the newly ar rived letter laterally for the stacking operation.

ton nnen long letters are to be operated on and the speed of the delivery rolls is gears to the shaft 106 in order to secure ditl changed. as above described, the stacker ferent speeds of the delivery rolls or wheels. l nuist be adjusted so that its open side will The delivery rolls or wheels are geared to ll be presented to the newly delivered letter at gether through the gears 110 and 111 on the proper moment and for this purpose the their respective shafts. stacker is loosely mounted on its sha it which In order to drive the stacking device I shaft is provided with a collar 130 which provide a gear 112 on its shaft113, said gear may be raised slightly by the handle 1 30, meshing with a gear 11 1 on the shaft or pin fixed on the same. to disengage the pin 131 115 and meshing with the gear 108. of said collar from the hole 132 in the The supplemental device 7 0 is operated stacker, after which the stacker may be through a belt 116 and pulleys 117, 118. y turned to bring another hole 133 below the The clutch 109 is operated by a fork 110 1 pin 1231 whereupon the collar may be (amnected with a vent ally movable rod 120 dropped and the said pin will then connert having at its upper end a handle 121 adapted with the st arker in the new position to which to raise and lower the said rod with the fork it has been adjusted for long letters. The to shitt the clutch. The handle is provided collar is splincd to the shaft and a. spring with a boss 122 having a pin depending presses it down, said spring bearing against a nut 130" screwed onto the shaft.

le't'erring now to certain details of construction: A guide strip 134 extends along the pathway of the letters, which guides them from the feed rolls to the marking members and thence to the delivery rolls. spring guide 1233 is also used for this purpose and a guide 130 for a similar purpose is attached to the bracket 51 and extends over one of the delivery rolls. The impression roller after being advanced is retracted by the spring 138, dotted lines Fig. 1, attaehcd below the table and connected by a link 130 to a block 3?. Fig. 5 in which the shaft of the impression roller bears. This box extends up into the slidcway or opening in the table top which permits the said impression roll to move towards and from the die carrier or rotary head. The ibrward movement of the impression roller is limited to suit the thinnest letters by a stop collar 112 on the sliding barrel 42 striking against. the rear end of the housing. The return movement of the locking-key or letter registering stop is limited by a stop 141 on the fixed housing 31 as indicated in Fig. 0.

The inking roller 27 is of special construction represented in Fig. 5. The fabric covering its periphery is held in place between the llanges 11; which are screwed to block til. This block is faced peripherally i with rubber 14:5 upon which the 'l'abric or felt periphery bears. T he rubber surlace l prevents the fabric from creeping or piling up at any one point. This inking roller may be set towards or from the die and canceling rib carrier for which purpose its pin 1-1-7)" extends up through an opening in the table top and it is carried by a lever 11? pivoted at 148 to the bottom oi the table and.

therefrom marked 123, which in one position of the handle is adapted to rest on the stand 12-1 and support the clutch rod in an elevated position. whereas when the handle is turned to bring the pin 12;) to an opening in the said stand the pin dropping into said opening will allow the clutch rod to drop and shitt the clutch from the upper gear to the lower gear, it being understood that the handle 121 may turn on the clutch rod in order to secure the above actions. The purpose of this change speed is to cause lung letters to be drawn away from the marking or printing members more rapidly than the shorter letters thus preventing a second printing or marking action thereon at the rear end of the said long letter. This change of speed atl'ects. it will be noticed. only the delivery rolls. ()ne of these delivery rolls is pressed by a spring against the other. its shaft is pivoted at the lower end at 120 while at its upper end said shaft is journaled in a box 127 Fig. 1, connected with a stem 128 extending into a casing or box 129 on the under side of the bed, said stein being pressed by a spring 130 within said casing. \Vhen the speed is changed as above to suit long letters the stacl-ter must also be adjusted so that its action will. be in proper time with the arrival of the letter thcreat. It will be understood that the stacker is timed in its movement so that as the letter is delivered from the rollers 56 and its front. end arrives at the stacker, the abrupt shoulder or drop will be presented to the letter while the other letters which were previously fed have been pushed or stacked laterally and are being borne upon by the high part of the stacker leaving thus a wide space between the stacked letters and the fence 60 for the reception oi the the An adjustable stop said inking roller toor printing roller 23.

pressed by a spring 149. limits the position of the wards the marking head Referring now to the eccentrics for driving the vibrator and the supplemental guard or stop finger it will be seen from Fig. 6 that these eccentrics are connected by a sleeve H9 loose on the main shaft, the eccentric 90 being attached to said sleeve by a screw 150 while the eccentric T2 is formed in one piece with the said sleeve. These eccentrics are driven through a gear 151 .loose on the main shaft but connected to the lower eccentric 72 by the screw 152. This gear meshes with a gear 153 turning on a pin 154 of a bracket I55. said gear being attached by a sleeve 156 with a gear 15? which driven by a gear 15h! fixed on the main shaft. This gear train gives a two to one movement of the vibrator, impression roller and supplemental stop in relation to the rotary marking head which latter. as above described, carries two sets of marking devices.

The canceling ribs are arranged on a block adapted to yield against the action of the spring L3H, Fig. 2. The outward movement of the block being limited by the pins 159 passing through the slots ltit) of the projections ltil on the block.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination in a machine of the class described, marking means for the let ters, a feed wheel, a yielding pressure device for holding the letters against the feed wheel and a retarding or separating device normally inactive but which engages a second letter upon the recession of the yielding device, substantially as described.

In combination in a machine of the class described, marking means for the letters, a feed wheel, a yielding smooth surlaced pressure device adjacent the feed wheel and a retarder in rear of the said pressure device having a. friction surface adapted to retard and separate the letters from the one being fed forward by the feed wheel, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a machine of the class described, means for marking the letters, a feed wheel having a channel or groove in its periphery and a. yielding pressure device for the letters arranged to extend slightly into the said groove or channel, the said pressure device and feed wheel beiug on opposite sides of the path for the letters substantially as described.

4. In combination in a machine of the class described, means for marking the letters, feed wheel having a channel or groove in its periphery, a yielding pressure device and a retarder or separator for the letters also having a groove or recess there in into which the said pressure device may recede, substantially as described.

y 5. In combination in a machine of the class described, means for marking the letlters, a feed wheel, a pressure device for holding the letters against said feed Wheel l and a retarder having a recess therein into I which the said pressure device may recede under the added thickness of a plurality of t letters, substantially as described.

6. In combination r in a machine of the class described, a marking head carrying l means for marking the letters, an impresiskm roller or platen, a combined letteri registering-stop and locking-key to register the letters and connect the platen with its setting mechanism and a vibrator for engaging the locking-key When the latter is set I by a letter, said platen having a movable support independent of the support and op- I crating means of the vibrator, substantially l as described. l 7. In combination in a machine of the class described, a marking head carrying f means for marking the letters, an impression roller or platen, a combined letterregistering-stop and locking-key to register the letters and connect the platen with its setting means and a vibrator for engaging the locking-key when the latter is set by the letter, said vibrator being arranged and operating at one side of the impression substantially as described.

8. In combination in a machine of the class described, a head carrying the marking means, an impression roll. a combined letterregistering-stop and locking-key, a yielding connection between said lockingkey and the impression roller to accommodate letters of different thickness and means for operating the locking-key to advance the impression roller, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a machine of the class described, marking means for the letters, an impression roll or platen, a letterrcgistering-stop and locking-key combined, a vibrator for operating the locking-key, a connection between the said locking-key and the impression roll to advance the same, driving means for the vibrator and independent means for driving the platen, substantially as described.

10. In combination in a class described, means for marking the letters, an impression roller, a combined letterregistering-stop and locking-key, a vibrator for operating the lockingkey and a connec tion between the said locking-key and the impression roll for advancing the same consisting of a member adapted to have movement towards and from the marking means and connected with the axis of the platen, said connection consisting of a movable part with a spring interposed between the same and the said movable member, substantially as described.

machine of the 11. In combination in a machine of the class described, marking means. an impression roller, a combined letter-registeringstop and locking-key. a. bracket or support slidably mounted and a member movably carried by the said sliding member and engaging the axis of the impression roller and a spring interposed between the said sliding and the movable part carried thereby, substantially described.

12. In combination. the marking means, an impression roller. a munbined letter-registering-stop and Iockingkcy supported indepcndently of the movable support or carrier oi the IllUI'H'LHSlUH roller, :1 connection between the said lockingkey and the impression roller to more the same and means for operating the. locking-key, substantially as described.

13. In combination, the marking means, an impression roller, a. combined leter-registcring-stop and barking-key. a pivot support for the same on the lixed part of the frame. means vt'or operating the locking-key and a connection between the said locking:- ke and the impression. roller, substantially as described.

ll. In combination marking means, an impression roller. a. sliding member. a movable parl thereon with a spring interposed between the same and the sliding member, said movable part engaging the axis of the impression roller. a combined letterregisterinn-stop and locking-key supported independently of the support and operating means for the in'ipression roller. the said locking-key engaging a part oi the sliding member and means for operating the locking-key. substantially as described.

1.). ln combination. marking means. an impression roller. a sliding part connected with the impression roller. a locking-key to be set by the letters. a pivot support for said locking-kc) arranged independently of the sliding part and means for operating the lockiirgr-kcy'. said locking-key engaging a portion of the sliding member. substantially as deseribei'l.

1U. ln a machine of the class described, marking means. a platen or roller, a reciprocal'ing vibrator and a locking-key to connect the platen with the reciprocating vibrator when a letter is registered between the platen and the marking means, substantially as described.

'17. in combination in a machine of the iss deserilwd. marking means. a platen or ller. a rmL-iprocating 'ibrator and a locking-key to connect the platen with the re ciprocating yil'n'ator when a letter is registered between the platen and the marking means and means tor operating the reciprocating vibrator consisting of a crank or face wheel with a pitman connecting the same with the reciprocating vibrator. substantially as described.

18. In combination with the marking means, a platen. a letter-reeistering-stop a supplemental stop or guard co:" perating therewith. said supplemental stop arresting the progress of the letter between the marking means and platen when the main registering-stop is tree. to permit the untimely passage ol' the letter, substantially as described.

19. Tu combination. mail-kiln); means. a. platen. a letter-registering-stop. a supple mental guard or stop and means For operating the same. said supplemental guard or stop serving to tree the letter t'roni the main stop, substantially as described.

20. In combination. marking means. a platen, a main registering-stop for the letter hayinga hook or like hearing for the letter and a supplemental .n'nard or stop for the letter to obstruct the passage ol. thc let ter when the main stop is free. the said supplemental stop serving also to more, the letter from the hook l airing part. substantially as described.

ill. in combination. marking means. a platen. a main registcring+top for the letter servingalsoas a ltit'liillQ'dit Y. means for operating the same to advance the platen and to subsequently more the said rcgisttiring-stop to permit the passage oi the letter. a supplemental guard or stop to arrest the passage of the letter arriving at improper time, with means for operating it out of the path of the letter when the main registtiring-stop operated to allow the letter to pass. said snp 'ilen'iental stop or award returning" towards its norn'ial position to free the letter from the main registering-stop. substantially as described.

In combination with marking means. a platen movable towards and from the niarkil'ig means. constantly driven means for moving the platen. a letter registering stop and locking key. and a. yieldinggate cooperating therewith to register the letter and hold the letters ill'l'l'x'lllgl at. improper time. said locking key being normally held out of the path of the said constantly driven means and moved into said path by the letter to thereby connect the platen with its operating means. substantially as described.

23. In combination. marking; means. a platen, a main registering stop for the letter. a supplemental stop or guard to arrest the letters arriving at: improper time and a. yielding gate cooperating with the main and supplemental stops, substantially as described.

24. In combination with marking means, a platen, a main and supplemental stop operating on one side of the pathway of the letter and a yielding e atc operating on the opposite side of the pathway of the letter and coi'iperating with the main and supplemental stops, substantially as described.

25. In combination, marking means, a platen, a letter-registering-stop acting as a locking-key and driving connections to operate against said locking-key to advance the platen, said driving connections having a yielding portion whereby the platen will be maintained against the marking means for the required period, substantially as described.

20. In combination. marking means, a platen, means for moving the said platen towards the marking means consisting of an eccentric and yielding connections between the same and the platen whereby the platen will be maintained in its forward position for a period before and after the time when the high part of the eccentric is passing the center, substantially as described.

In combination, marking means, an impression roller or platen, means for operating the same. comprising a reciprocating member situated to one side of the platen and a locking-key intermediate the same and the platen. substantially as described.

29. In combination marking means, a platen and means for operating the same consisting of the combined letter stop and barking-key, a reciprocating member located to one side of the platen, an eccentric and connections from the same to the said oscillating member. substantially as described.

29. In cmubination, the rotary head having marking means thereon, a platen, means for moving the platen to the marking means consisting of a member arranged l;-elow the marking head. a locking-key and connection between the said locking-key and the said operating means.

30. In combination, the marking head, the platen, a locking-key, a reciprocatory vibrator. an oscillating crank or face plate journaled to one side of the platen and an eccentric below the marking head connected with the oscillating crank or face plate, substantiall y as described.

31. In combination, the marking head, a platen, a locking-key, a member journaled to one side of the platen arranged to operate the locking-key, a supplemental stop, means carrying the same arranged to turn concentric with the operating member for the lock ing-key, and means for operating the said carrying member, substantially as described.

32. In combination a marking head, a platen, a member journaled to one side of the platen for operating the locking-key, a supplemental stop, a journaled carrier therefor, an eccentric for operating said carrier and an eccentric for operating the said member, substantially as described.

2,3. In combination, the marking head, a platen, a main registering stop, a supplemental registering stop and a yielding gate having shoulders for the said stops, substantially as described.

:54. In combination a marking head having a plurality of sets of marking devices thereon, a platen, a vibrator for operating the platen and means for operating the marking head, and vibrator in a relation of two to one so that a plurality of complete vibrations of the vibrator for each rotary movement of the marking head takes place, substantially as described.

35. In combination in a machine of the class described, means for printing upon the letters, delivery rolls, change speed mechanism, a stacker and means for setting the stacker to correspond to the speed of the delivery rolls, substantially as described.

36. In combination in a machine of the class described, means for printing upon the letters, delivery rolls, change speed mechanism, a stacker and means for setting the stacker to correspond to the speed of the do livery rolls, substantially as described.

37. In combination in a machine 01' the class described, a marking head, a platen, a combined letter-registering-stop and locking-key, a vibrator to operate the lockingkey upon the timely arrival of a letter and to lock the locking-key upon the untimely arrival of a letter, substantially described.

338. In combination in a. machine of the class described, a marking head, a platen, a combined letter-registering-stop and locking-key, a vibrator to operate the lockingkey upon the timely arrival of a letter and to lock the locking-key upon the untimely arrival of a letter, said vibrator presenting its side portion to the locking-key for the locking effect. substantially as described.

39. In combination in a letter marking machine a rotary marking head and a platen normally separated, a locking key and registering stop in the path of the letter and means for securing a closing movement between the platen and marking head, said means acting upon the locking key for transmitting the closing movement therethrough, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL J. EVANS.

Witnesses CHAS. M. Amuns, C. A. MooivrAw. 

